ACES ENTERS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

ACES ENTERS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY SIGNS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH FOOTBALL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, AND COLLEGE CONNECT INTERNATIONAL

The Aces Youth Soccer Academy (AYSA) has entered into a strategic partnership with Spain-based Football Center of Excellence (FCE) and USA/Zimbabwe-based College Connect International (CCI) to promote access to international soccer opportunities for Zimbabwe’s youth.

Through this partnership AYSA has established new channels for placing its talent internationally; and is also creating more opportunities for boys and girls to enrol at American universities.

FCE is a network of football academies that advise, train, coach, support and manage football players, and will collaborate in the development and placement of AYSA players with quality football clubs in Europe.

According to Christiaan Vermeeren, the CEO of Global FCE, “Beginning in 2017, FCE will enrol AYSA players at their facilities in Malaga for a year, before placement with clubs in Spain and around the world.

To identify soccer talent, AYSA and CCI will hold annual showcases and training camps for both boys and girls. The players identified will work with CCI to be enrolled on scholarship at various US colleges. “We have been working with athletes in Zimbabwe for the past 3 years, and now working with AYSA is extremely exciting as they develop some of the best local talent. With AYSA’s committed team and it’s growing focus on academics, it’s definitely going to streamline the pool and process”, said Thabani Sithole, Director of Recruiting.

ABOUT AYSA

The Aces Youth Soccer Academy (AYSA) is a sport and academic development institution for boys and girls aged between 10 and 18. Since its establishment on February 7, 2001, the Academy has provided social development support for Zimbabwe’s boys and girls through sport and academic education.

Vision
AYSA is a youth development trailblazer, offering dynamic world-leading sports programmes and providing critical academic, nutritional, medical, and social support systems; to mould young men and women of character – future leaders.

Mission
AYSA’s mission is to establish an institution that is a home and place of excellence for Zimbabwe’s youth. This is being achieved by providing physical, intellectual, vocational, and emotional development. Specifically, the primary assignment of the Academy is to nurture 10 to 18 year-old boys and girls such that they achieve their dreams of becoming successful soccer players, coaches, and administrators.

Objectives
AYSA’s fundamental thrust is the aspiration to empower Zimbabwe’s youth such that they become productive participants in the country’s sustainable economic and social development. Our grand objective is to use sport as a capacity building tool and rescue young boys and girls from the poverty trap by: